If you’ve applied for the county school board vacancy in Bogue Chitto, we want to hear from you.

The Daily Leader is seeking interviews with any resident of Educational District 3 who has asked the Lincoln County School District Board of Trustees for consideration in the upcoming appointment to fill the unexpired term of former board member Ricky Welch, who resigned Sept. 10.

The board has until Nov. 2 to make an appointment, and even though voters will not be allowed to choose the district’s representative, The Daily Leader would like to treat the appointment like an election by publishing stories on each “candidate” who has expressed interest, so that voters in Educational District 3 will know who has offered themselves for the board’s consideration.

Regina East, an administrator in the district office, said Wednesday five people had contacted the board and asked to be considered for the job, but after checking with school board attorney Jim Keith, refused to provide their names.

The Daily Leader submitted a public records request seeking copies of the letters the five candidates have turned in, but the district has until Oct. 19 to respond to the request.

The board next meets Oct. 15 and could appoint a new member then without the residents of Educational District 3 having a chance to see the list and lobby the school board for their preferred appointee.

The Educational District 3 appointee will serve for one year and run for a full term in the 2019 general election.